Typical Child Speech Development

Child speech development experts have recorded the typical language development stages that children go through. Within each age group, normal development can vary quite a bit.

The first signs of communication occur when an infant learns that a cry will bring food, comfort, and companionship. Newborns also begin to recognize important sounds in their environment, such as the voice of their mother or primary caretaker. As they grow, babies begin to sort out the speech sounds that compose the words of their language. By 6 months of age, most babies recognize the basic sounds of their native language.

Children vary in their development of speech and language skills. However, they follow a natural progression or timetable for mastering the skills of language. These milestones help doctors and other health professionals determine if a child is on track or if he or she may need extra help. Sometimes a delay may be caused by hearing loss, while other times it may be due to a speech or language disorder.

However, parents of children who are significantly behind in child speech development milestones should talk with their pediatrician to find out how to get their child back on track. Sydney speech language experts can provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

By the age of 2 years, most children:

Create short sentences typically made of one noun and one verb (or fragments of those words)

Do not yet have control of pitch and volume of their voice

A Sydney speech language pathologist will be able to provide you with additional milestones to be aware of and to work towards if your child is falling behind. Children’s speech development services ensure a customized approach so that your family can assist your child in optimizing his or her speech-language skills with time.

If you have questions or concerns about children’s speech and language development contact your local doctor, who will arrange for you to see a speech pathologist. We‘ll provide you with a straightforward, efficient and very effective treatment plan targeted to your concerns.

To find out more see our section about childhood development, click here.